Organic Farming

17. Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the level of financial support for organic farming. [107898]

Mr. Morley:
A review of aid for conversion to organic farming is in progress. The results of the review will provide the basis for a revised organic aid scheme under the England Rural Development Programme, for which I have announced an allocation of £140 million over the life of the programme.

Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental benefits of organic farming. [107902]

Mr. Morley:
Evaluation of the environmental impact of organic farming is one of the three main objectives of the Ministry's organic R&D programme, for which £2.1 million has been allocated for 1999-2000. Field studies on biodiversity and soil fertility on organic farms, following earlier desk studies and a study of nutrient cycling are in progress. Work on nitrates and ammonia emissions has recently been completed.

Meat Inspection

20. Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report progress on implementing a new system of meat inspection. [107901]

Ms Quin:
The Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group recommended in its report published on 13 December 1999 that the current meat inspection rules be replaced by a risk-based system of checks applying Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. We have accepted this recommendation, but a new meat inspection system to replace existing controls will entail changes to EU legislation. We strongly support the Commission's initiatives to review and modernise meat hygiene controls and will be pressing for early progress.

Food Chain Group Report

21. Mr. Heppell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received following the publication of the report of the Food Chain Group. [107903]

Ms Quin:
The Food Chain Group report has been welcomed by many interests across the supply chain as a significant contribution to the drive to improve agri-food competitiveness. Over 1,000 copies have been sent to interested parties. We intend to review progress in the summer.

Labelling

22. Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote compulsory country of origin labelling within the European Union. [107904]

Ms Quin:
Following consultation with industry and enforcement authorities we published revised guidance on origin labelling on 1 February making it clear that origin labels on food must be clear and unambiguous. This is an important step forward in our drive for better labelling and more informed choice. We will encourage the European Commission to take similar steps at EU level and raise the issue for wider international discussion at the forthcoming meeting of the Codex Committee for Food Labelling in Ottawa in May.

Regional Development Agencies

23. Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the English regional development agencies on strengthening the regional aspects of policies and programmes for supporting agriculture. [107905]

Mr. Morley:
I met Vincent Watts, Chairman of the East of England Development Agency, and Rural Board Members and officials from the other RDAs on 27 January. We had a useful discussion about the England Rural Development Plan 2000-06 among other issues. The ERDP contains proposals for supporting the rural economy of each region, tailored to meet specific regional needs, which were drawn up in full collaboration with the RDAs and other regional partners.

Farming (Government Support)

24. Mr. Flight:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of financial support provided to farmers by the Government in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [107906]

Ms Quin:
The total value of EU and UK Exchequer funded subsidies for farming paid in the UK in 1997-98 was £3,582.8 million. This includes market support measures which are not paid directly to farmers, but which benefit them indirectly.

Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill

Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of animal welfare organisations to discuss progress on the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill. [107895]

Mr. Morley:
I am in regular contact with representatives of animal welfare organisations on a wide range of issues. It is of course true that their concerns on fur farming would be met by the proposed ban, although the basis of the ban is that fur farming is wrong in itself, apart from any considerations of animal welfare.

Organophosphates

Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the Minister of State's letter of 16 December, reference 133662, when he expects to receive advice from the Veterinary Products Committee in relation to organophosphorous sheep dips; and if he will make a statement. [104398]

Ms Quin [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC)'s report was published on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 446W. Following consideration of reports from the

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what pesticide approvals for glufosinate ammonium have been given in respect of trials of genetically modified crops carried out under Part B of Council Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. [109221]

Ms Quin [holding answer 8 February 2000]: To date we have granted four experimental approvals under the Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995 (as amended) for the use of glufosinate ammonium on genetically modified crops. These would permit uses in trials of genetically modified crops carried out under Part B of Council Directive 90/220.

Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the antibiotic marker genes, and the antibiotics to which they convey resistance, that have been used in the genetic modification of crops from which genetically modified foods available in the United Kingdom have been produced in the last five years. [108624]

Ms Quin:
The only foods available in the UK which have been produced from GM crops containing antibiotic marker genes are highly processed products in which all the genetic material, including antibiotic marker genes, has been rendered inactive through extensive degradation. The two marker genes, in either a complete or disrupted form, that have been used in these crops are kanamycin and ampicillin resistance genes. The intact genes convey resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics including kanamycin, neomycin and geneticin; and narrow spectrum . lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin and amoxycillin respectively.

Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent research has been undertaken into the possible effects of antibiotic resistance gene markers retained in foods produced by the genetic modification of crops on (a) humans and (b) animals; and if he will make a statement. [108620]

Ms Quin:
MAFF is funding the following research into the possible effects of antibiotic resistance gene markers retained in foods produced by the genetic modification of crops, all of which are due to be completed in 2001.